Party Food Etiquette

As you were growing up your parents taught you to be polite and courteous. Those same rules today can be applied to planning a party menu for those with food allergies or food preferences. Last weekend we hosted our first party in our new home. It was great to share our new place with neighbors and friends. We had a great turn out and are excited about getting the “social” ball rolling. But, of course, it is not all about the food (for some). The table with flowers ifs always a must have for me. Here is a very quick “do” for the centerpiece. Missing the evergreens of the NC garden!

Table centerpiece using large liquor bottles for vases. By using the bottles you achieve various “heights” and it takes very few flowers. One bunch of white Hydrangeas and a few greens is all it took!

This leads me to party food planning and Party Food Etiquette. I have been following a gluten-free dietary plan for about five years. It is not just a fad but something that makes me feel better and my body function better. I do not have a severe allergic reaction as some with Celiac disease but I now understand how important diet can be.

We had several guests following a gluten-free diet and/or a vegan diet. With that in mind I started researching recipes that could suit both. My best word of advise is to read every label. For example, I wanted dairy/animal free cheese. I found “Veggie” cheese by the tofu and thought that would do. Reading the label revealed that the cheese had milk solids. So, always check labels if you are looking for some particular allergens such as dairy, nuts or wheat. Food labeling has really improved but buyer be smart!

Enough about the why’s, here are the how’s. I went way overboard with the food selection but learned a lot in the process. Here is three ways to build an antipasto skewers for several diets:

Vegan version, leave off the tortellini, salami, mozzarella and add more veggies.

Antipasto skewers with food labels on cute little candy cane easels.

By adjusting this one recipe I meet most of the dietary needs of my guests. Other items on the menu were more specific to just one, maybe two dietary categories. All in all, the food was a success and everyone seemed to enjoy the options and variety. Our diet conscientious guests were most appreciative!

The food array for our holiday party with amazing bright sunshine filtering through our windows.

Food labels are a must when making such a wide variety of foods in different dietary categories. Your guests do not have to “guess” what’s in the food. I found this festive holiday template and candy cane easel ideas on Pinterest. Common initials for various diets are shown in bold on the bottom of the label. You can be more specific for various other ingredients, if needed, such as peanut or nut allergies.

Thanks, Yvonne. I think, for me, gluten free is a little easier. I can remove the bread from a sandwich or pick and choose what doesn’t contain gluten. You are so right that vegan is more of a challenge. I think I managed to provide a good assortment. No one seemed to go hungry!